BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA Trends and Developments Contributed by: Miodrag Jevtić, Gecić Law
Yet, within this challenging environment lies a unique opportunity for transformation. The growing number of high-stakes international arbitration cases has forced the state to engage with complex procedural frameworks, build institutional memory, and gradually develop cross-sectoral co-ordination in defending its interests. Parallel to this, the emergence of dedicated arbitration initiatives, such as the annual Sarajevo Arbitration Days, expanded academic curricula, and increased participation in global mooting competi - tions, reflects a nascent but meaningful shift in legal culture, particularly among the younger generation of practitioners and students. The pathway to a functional and credible arbitra - tion ecosystem will depend on the country’s abil - ity to undertake decisive institutional and legislative reforms. Chief among these is the need to harmonise arbitration provisions across the entity-level civil pro - cedure acts and, ideally, adopt a unified state-level arbitration law aligned with international standards such as the UNCITRAL Model Law. Equally important is the need to strengthen the judiciary’s understanding of arbitration principles, develop consistent enforce - ment practices for arbitral awards, and foster a culture of trust in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
More broadly, arbitration must be recognised not merely as a procedural alternative to court litigation, but as a strategic instrument for advancing national economic policy. A robust and predictable arbitration environment enhances legal certainty, boosts investor confidence and reinforces the rule of law. For Bos - nia and Herzegovina, this means positioning itself as a reliable jurisdiction within the Western Balkans for domestic and cross-border dispute resolution, an asset of growing importance in a region striving for EU integration and deeper economic co-operation. Ultimately, the success of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s arbitration reform efforts will hinge on sustained politi - cal will, institutional co-ordination, and meaningful investment in legal education and professional capac - ity-building. If these conditions are met, the country can mitigate future risks and transform arbitration from a reactive necessity into a proactive pillar of its legal and economic development strategy.
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